DDOT NOI 18-227 No Turn on Red Resolution January 2019

Whereas, Mayor Bowser announced to much fanfare on February 20, 2015 that she wascommitted to a goal of zero deaths on the District of Columbia’s roadways by 2025, an initiative known as “Vision Zero,” and

Whereas, in 2018 there were 34 people killed on roads in the District of Columbia an increase of 13 percent over 20171 marking the fourth consecutive year that traffic fatalities have increased in the District, a trend that confirms DC is not doing enough to make streets safer for all of its users, and

Whereas, in the last 15 years three pedestrians have been fatally struck by cars just within the boundaries of ANC 3E, two of whom were in signalized intersections, and

Whereas, on December 21st 2018 DDOT announced its intentions to add no right turn on red restrictions at 101 signalized intersections in the District, including the following three intersections within ANC 3E:

Van Ness Street NW, 39th Street NW and Wisconsin Avenue NW

42nd Street NW, Ellicott Street NW and Wisconsin Avenue NW

Albemarle & 42nd Streets NW

Whereas, there is ample evidence2 that banning right turns on red reduces conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians and the Federal Highway Administration also advises such restrictions to increase safety3, and

Whereas, the intersection of Van Ness, 39th and Wisconsin is a complicated 3-way intersection with popular fast casual restaurants on 3 sides and a pedestrian was struck and killed by a driver one block from this intersection in June of 20154, and

Whereas, the intersection of 42nd and Ellicott Streets and Wisconsin Avenue is also a complicated intersection with cars exiting Wisconsin Avenue at a high rate of speed and is also immediately adjacent to the future Georgetown Day Lower School and one block from the current Georgetown Day Upper School, though right turn on reds are already restricted from eastbound Ellicott to southbound 42nd Street and Wisconsin Avenue, and

Whereas, the intersection of Albemarle and 42nd Street is on the same block as Janney Elementary School and 1 block from the Tenleytown Metro station and commercial district though this intersection has long been a no right turn on red intersection.

Now therefore be it resolved, ANC 3E supports the imposition of no right turn on red restrictions for all approaches and the maintenance of existing restrictions at all three of these intersections.

Be it further resolved, ANC 3E believes this list is inadequate and that there are higher priority signalized intersections along Wisconsin, Western and Massachusetts Avenues that also would likely benefit from no right turn on red restrictions.

ANC 3E approved this resolution at its meeting on January 10, 2019, which was properly noticed and at which a quorum was present. The resolution was approved by a vote of 0-0-0. Commissioners Jonathan Bender, Amy Hall, Jonathan McHugh, Tom Quinn and Greg Ehrhardt were present.